ESPN Draftniks Kiper, McShay Have New Selections For Steelers In Latest Mock Drafts

On Tuesday, ESPN draftniks Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay both released new versions of mocks of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and each have new names going to the Pittsburgh Steelers the 15th overall selection.

Kiper has Notre Dame tackle Zack Martin going to the Steelers and he writes:

In my draft needs piece, I wrote, “Kelvin Beachum could be holding down the left tackle position, and, although Ramon Foster was pretty good last year at left guard, given the injuries the Steelers have dealt with up front the past couple of seasons, I could see an addition at tackle or guard to improve depth.” Martin is up there with Joe Bitonio of Nevada for me as perhaps the most versatile offensive line talent in the draft, which is pretty useful for the Steelers. Pittsburgh could go cornerback here, but I don’t like the value with the top two off the board. Receiver is also an option.

As for McShay, he now has Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller tabbed for the Steelers. He writes:

I don’t think the Steelers have to go with a cornerback here, but it’s definitely a need position. The three players it came down to for me were Fuller, Justin Gilbert and C.J. Mosley. Mosley could be a fit, but I think the durability concerns will probably lead to him falling a little. I’m sure they’d love to have Gilbert’s playmaking ability, but they’ve always gone for more physical corners like Fuller over guys like Gilbert who don’t get up and press and are poor tacklers. If they can find a way to trade back and add extra picks, that’d be a good move; they could get similar value to Fuller six or so spots down the board.

The Fuller pick by McShay I can fathom happening, but the selection of Martin by Kiper really doesn’t make a lot of sense and especially being that the Notre Dame product might be best suited to play guard at the NFL level.

It should be noted that both Kiper and McShay already have Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr. and Darqueze Dennard already off the board come time for the Steelers selection. Kiper also has Justin Gilbert already off the board as well.

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Just when I thought I couldn’t hate Kiper any more than I already do he goes and writes this. Fuller on the other hand I’m warming up to.

chris ward

I like McShay’s pick with CB Fuller going to the Steelers, but I think Kiper might have lost his mind with picking OT Zach Martin to the Steelers.

Jacque Strappe

Kiper has to keep juggling so people will keep reading. Nothing more, nothing less.

DoctorNoah

I think Kiper is chasing his own tail. This is a longshot,

Toddy Bravo

I’m a big Justin Gilbert fan, but I would sign up for a trade down where we take Fuller in the latter part of the first, plus add a couple of mid-round picks. I’d take that in a heartbeat.

joed32

He says “with the top two off the board”. Which two corners does he now have going before the Steeler pick?

westcoasteeler

Oh Melvin…

Biggie

I like DB for us at 15 and either Gilbert or Dennard should be there who I think are the top 2. Fuller is a distant 3rd, needs to get alot stronger. As much as I like Martin and his flexibility, he makes no sense for us. He is very similar to Beachum in his best position could be LG but can adjust to any position. If we would go OL it would be for a straight franchise LT to move Beachum inside. Kiper always seems to be in left field when viewing the Steelers, thus never bother listening to him. Barr and Mosley also could be around when we pick and would be good options.

dgh57

SHUTUP ALREADY KIPER with the nonsense!!!

Brendan

For a guy that needs to get stronger he sure has great explosion and tackles well.

SteelersDepot

Dennard & Gilbert

Ellwood Davis

I would take Morgan Moses from Virginia before Fuller.

steelcityinny

I think that ointment Mel uses in his hair has sunk through and caused additional brain damage. No way they waste a first round pick on Martin.

If the Steelers pick Martin, pretty much the entirety of Steeler Nation will go into full-on nuclear meltdown mode.

Fuller would be a far more reasonable pick, and I know a far superior analyst over at the NFL Network really likes him, but 15 does seem too early for him. Either go with the huge upside of Dennard or Gilbert or pass on CB and go for a better fit elsewhere, like at WR or LB.

But, sure, maybe our best bet would be for a team behind us to panic or reach and allow us to trade down. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Hard Row

Here’s where draftniks go wrong when they identify a player like Fuller who is a need and a perfect fit with a scheme but then they say it’s too early to take him because he should go about 5 picks later.

Guess what, the steelers pick at 15, not at 20. Sure, if you can pull off a trade to move back a few spots and still get your guy that’s ideal. But that is not always possible and these draftniks tend to act like you just pick up the phone and make it happen.

I can see faulting a team for drafting a guy that is rated to go like 20 picks later or may have been available at your next pick. That’s a reach. But picking a guy within 5 or so spots of his consensus rating is not a reach at all.

If the steelers have Fuller or whoever as the best guy on their board at that time and they picked somebody else just because they thought it was 5 picks too soon, that would be crazy.

Daniel Fuller

Mel Kiper is WHACK, he’s like the weatherman, full of it

Daniel Fuller

If we really want Gilbert or Evans trade up and grab’em.

joed32

Thanks!

srdan

I like Martin as much as Kipers hair

gsmscooter22

Did you read the article? It says Dennard and Gilbert are believed to be gone or off the board by the time the Steelers pick 15th…..I would take Dennard myself….or best player available

shawnd

Ellwood, you hit a winner there with Morgan Moses. I was hoping the Steelers could sneak him in on the 2nd round pick, but he may not last that long. Moses would make a great Steeler, huge upside !

RW

Please not Beckham Jr. I could be wrong about him, but we already have AB playing the role he’s best suited for. Give me Fuller if this is the way the draft pans out…

wdhammer

Lewan

RW

Couldn’t agree more… he’s probably the strongest of the three…

RW

Yup.

srdan

Calling him a weatherman youre giving him a lot of credit. lol

20Stoney

I’d rather trade down…..

Ed Charles

McShay is clueless! I’ll never forget how he argued how Blaine Gabbert will be a stud at QB in 3 years. LMAO. Kiper doesn’t worry about what others think when he puts his predictions out there, he gets far more right then mcShay. Kiper tries to think like the GM, I give him props for that even tho I don’t like him for beign a Ravens fan

scott2443

for get kiper and mcshay ..i want to know who jimmy the greek has going to steelers at 15…

Ed Charles

This is what these guy’s get paid for! Fuller WILL NOT be a Steeler at pick 15! He’s an average man-cover guy, jumps routes and gets burned, also isn’t a great tackler. Give me a break! I’d be shocked if Martin were the pick as well, even though he’s far better value at 15 then Fuller. On ething martin has going for him, he’s good at the zone-blocking scheme, which we have.

Smokin_Smiley

please trade back pitt…. this draft is loaded with talent….trade back in the twenties pick up fuller then with your second get tuitt and Benjamin for the comp pick for moving back….all 3 needs taking care of…. and as far as line goes adams has been really working in the offseason he will be the starting LT this year

j m

Praising a CB for his tackling ability is like praising a WR for his blocking ability. Nothing wrong with it, but a WR can only be great if he catches passes. A CB can only be great if he intercepts them, or at least breaks them up.

When I hear people talk about Dennard, all I hear is what a great tackler he is. This makes me very suspicious and strikes me as a smokescreen for Dennard’s lack of elite speed.

Steelers should pass on Dennard at 15. He is not an elite talent.

joed32

Apparently not very well.

Eric MacLaurin

The left side of the line is paper thin with average or worse players and no depth. You can’t dismiss the possibility.

Smashmouth

lol i think he’s past caring who anyone takes

Steelers@2010

If Gilbert, Fuller or Dennard is there, it will be one of the three. Unless Mike Evans drop, I think it’s a no-brainer. However, I have seen stranger things before when it comes to the Steelers. They are making it too obvious of what they intend to do – CB/WR. I think they just may throw us a curve ball.

Shannon Stephenson

The common thing I see from all the analysts is that they do not have a clue along with the rest of Steeler nation. I could name 10 guys who have a distinct possibility.

scott2443

but he now can get insider info lol

Brian Miller

here here!!!

Brian Miller

I am really backtracking on my picks too…I feel like an ESPN draft analyst…I was harping on Lee for a few months. Now? I really hope they skip WR in the 1st round unless a miracle happens and we get Evans or Watkins. Now I am hoping we get a chance at Barr, or Dennard, or Lewan.

Darryl Battle

I must be part of the minority, but other than the player profile that Dave Te provided, there is little to no talk about Jordan Matthews. He led the SEC in receiving yards from VANDERBILT! He is also the cousin of the greatest receiver to ever play the game….Jerry Rice. I’m sure he has worked with his cousin to be that successful. That shows a work ethic to be great. I say trade down with SF, get their 2nd, 4th and 6th, draft Matthews late 1st and CB early 2nd. By the way, Matthews is 6’3″, runs a 4.46 40 and weighs 226lbs. Fast, strong body and tall.

pat

I totally agree with you or even trade out of the 1st round with say the texans let them jump in and get a qb they want get there 1st for next yr and 2nd 3rd 5th for this yr and grab Matthews at 33

Steelers12328882

I love how every fan knows exactly where players should be drafted. Most draftniks have Zack Martin as the 4th best O lineman, so is it really that shocking that Mel Kiper would mock him to the Steelers, considering he’s versatile and can play in our zone blocking scheme? Geez, Kiper must be an idiot.

blackandgoldBullion

he’s my choice as well, and always has been.

Virdin Barzey

The bottom line for us is that the #15 pick has to be a potential pro-bowl caliber player. So whomever is there when we pick has to be a potential game changer.

Gilbert seems to be that guy, not sure if Dennard is that type of player. LSU receiver seems like that type of guy and many believe so is the big kid from FSU. I can’t see us taking a o-line with the 15th pick. We would be better off to trade down.

Nathaniel Sullivan

If this was the case, they won’t pick at lineman as our 1st pick, they hopefully trade back with the Browns or 49ers.

Mike Cardwell

The Steelers needs starters not bench depth? Is Kiper crazy. The number 15 pick and he hints at depth on the o’line. If Evans, Barr or Gilbert aren’t there I would trade down to get Hageman DE. This team needs someone to pressure the quarterback to help the overall D bigtime.

Joey Duncan

IF AVAL I WOULD LOV3 TO GET AARON DONALDSON FROM PITT.. BUT HE PROB WONT BE THERE STILL.SO I SAY GET THAT STAR CORNER.. THE FAST ONE THATS A LOCKDOWN MAN GUY BUT NOT A GREAT TACKLER … WE DONT NEED A GREAT TACKLING CB ANY MORE .. U NEED GUYS WHO CAN COVER ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FIELD…SO CB AND DE DT LB . ID SAY SPEND ALOT ON THE D AND SEE IF WE CANT PICK UP A LATE ROUND WR .. AND THEY KEEP SAYING RB RB RB .. I DONT THINK THAT WE NEED TO DRAFT A RB.. WE GOT BELL AND BLOUNT.. THE THIRD GUY WOULD NEVER SEE THE FIELD SO WHY WASTE A DRAFT PICK ON HIM… BUT MAN IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET DONALDSON

Joey Duncan

THERE WILL BE SOMETHING MORE VALUEABLE FOR THE STEELERS AT 15 THAN A BACK UP OLINE BRO